Wife has late payments on her CC..

If you want to close the account you would have to pay off the complete balance. Once you pay it off request them to cancel it. However there are no assurances that they will remove the negative remarks from the cr even if you ask. Depends how bullheaded they are about keeping keeping accounts in the toilet.

 

How about calling them and asking what they are prepared to do if you work with them on this? The worst they can do is say 'no', at which point you have lost nothing and gained an insight into who you are dealing with. Anything better is a bonus!

 

No use calling them UNLESS you yourself record the conversation. Write them and send it CMRRR. If you get the green card back you will have proof that they actually received your inquiry.

 

And IF they call you make sure that at the end of the conversation you tell them that you recorded the call.

 

Learn your state's laws on recording FIRST. In some states, if you don't tell them up front that you're recording, you are committing a felonly.

And yes, people HAVE been charged and convicted under these laws.

Sending everything certified mail so that you have proof positive is always a good move.

 

When a person calls and wants to actually talk to a CSR they are immediately told that this call will be recorded "for quality purposes". Seems to me that if they're recording you can do the same, no matter what the state laws say.

 

Just make sure you have that statement on your tape. Of course, that statement comes before the other person picks up the phone, so I suppose they could claim ignorance about that which would kick the ball back into your court to prove they knew that the calls were recorded.

A simpler way would be to ask:

You: The message said that this call might be recorded for quality purposes. Is it OK with you that your calls are recorded?
Them: Yeah, sure, deadbeat.

However you have to phrase it correctly so it doesn't sound like you are the one doing the recording or they'll just hang up and go on to the next sucker.

 

Check the state laws for your state. Every one is different.

You can't assume that because they say they MAY record the call, that you CAN record the call. There is a difference between the ability to record if they want and the actual recording.

 

There are Federal laws and laws in may states regarding the taping of phone conversations. Here is a quote from a website that deals specifically with this subject:

To my mind, a simple question to the effect of "is this call is being recorded?" would cover the all-party rule. Naturally, if the call is being monitored as well (CSR in training for example), that might be stretching it a little, but the normal response of 'yes' from the CSR should be sufficient. Kind of hard to sue for recording when you answered 'yes' to that question on the same recording!

However, back to my original post, the reason I suggested this was that I was running into deep trouble with finances after being laid off. I called the CU that was managing my accounts and my car loan, and spoke with a lady there. I explained the circumstances to her and she was very sympathetic. She helped me by reversing charges across several accounts, removing late fees, freeing off funds to meet necessary minimum payments. She also helped me get my car surrendered in a way that didn't show up as a repo, and pushed the auction house to get more money than it was worth so that the final sale price covered all of my outstanding debts with the CU.

This was all person to person over the phone, and I don't think it would have happened if it had all been done by letter. Yes, there were several sacrifices made on my part, but at least one major creditor (and the only secured one at that) was off the list. Obviously, YMMV in this type of deal, but it never hurts to ask.

In greyg00se's case, his wife is the one with problems. I'm assuming his credit is in better shape. The OC in this case would probably be delighted that their failing client has someone that is going to help her get back on track and may be prepared to go to great lengths to assist. On the other hand, they may not, but to my mind a phone call is probably the better way to go, especially since it is coming from the mentor rather than the debtor. Provided there is no communal property law in greyg00se's state, then anything he says to them cannot be taken as a promise to pay on her part and may prove educational as to the type of support that may be expected in the future.

Naturally, following up by mail is always a good idea, in fact it can be made a contingency of the phone offer if one is made. For example: "OK, so my understanding is that if she keeps the payments on time for the next 6 months and makes an additional 2 payments during that time to cover the arrears, you will remove the late charges and reporting? I'll send you a letter outlining that as a firm written offer, and we can follow on from there to make this a binding deal, is that acceptable to you?"

This has 2 immediate results: It distances the caller from the debtor, since "she" will be making the payments (and therefore not the caller), and it also declares on the recorded line that anything agreed to in the conversation is subject to written approval before being binding on either part.

 

Credit unions are often more willing to work with you than the traditional bank or credit card companies. That's why I often recommend credit unions.

And back to the recording, if you listen carefully, most of them say "this call MAY be monitored or recorded." It doesn't necessarily say it IS being monitored or recorded. Sounds like an inconsequential difference, but it's not. It doesn't necessarily say that the call is being recorded. If you're in one of the twelve states, I'd still make sure I mentioned it up front.

I can tell you for a fact that you don't mess around in Maryland.